Toitu - Otago Settlers Museum

Scottish lore is prominent in this collection featuring the cultural heritage of Dunedin and Otago. Open every day with free entry inside the glorious old art deco bus station.

In 1898 Otago celebrated 50 years of European settlement. Prosperous citizens decided a museumshould be built to record the province’s early years. J.A. Burnside was employed to design the building which also housed the Art Gallery until 1925. The museum has been extended to include the former Road Services Building, whose design owes much to Hollywood. Appropriately, it houses an interesting collection of vehicles ranging from a bullock wagon to an antique, but surprisingly spacious caravan. Apart from the transport section, this museum is probably of greatest interest to locals who are researching genealogies. If you’re interested in faces, however, there’s a room with every bit of wall space covered with photos of early settlers.

"As a child I was fascinated by these wall-to-wall, unsmiling portraits; years later, they still command attention!"

The Double Fairlie locomotive on display is "Josephine", built in 1872 for the Dunedin & Port Chalmers Railway. Also on display is the 146-tonne locomotive Ja 1274, the 35th and last of its class. It was built at Dunedin's Hillside Railway Workshops between 1946 and 1956.

In December 2012 the museum reopened after major redevelopment. Improvements include the restoration of the splendour of the art deco buildings, stunning computer designed sculptures of horses being added to the Cobb & Co. Coach exhibition, a new modern Entrance Foyer and a new café and shop.